Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He said not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to your seed… Where is thy casket of promises? Bring it out. Open the jar of jewels. Pour out the golden ingot, stamped with the image and superscription of heaven's King. Count over the diamonds that flash in thy hand like stars. Compute the worth, of that single jewel, "Ask and ye shall receive ," or that other ruby, "All things shall work together for good to them that love God." Bring forth that royal Koh-i-noor, "He that believeth shall be saved." Then remember who it is that gave them, and to what an unworthy sinner, and tell me if they are not "exceeding great and precious." When Caesar once gave a man a great reward, he exclaimed, "This is too great a gift for me to receive." — "But," said Caesar, "it is not too great a gift for me to give." So the smallest promise in thy casket is too much for thee to deserve: yet the most magnificent promise is not too great for the King of kings to bestow. God scorns to act meanly and stingily by His children; and how must He scorn us often when we put Him off with such contemptible stinginess of deeds or donations! (C. H. Spurgeon.)But some may object, and say, Is the law opposed to the older promise? Clearly not; for it is powerless to do that which the Faith alone could do, give life. For if the law could have given spiritual life it would have conferred righteousness. But this the law does not pretend to do, since it does but declare all to be under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. In the Epistle, then, for this day the apostle shows: — 1. That the faith in Christ, the promise made by God to Abraham and to his seed, was prior to the law of Moses. 2. That the original promise made to Abraham is more excellent in itself, and attended by more glorious circumstances, than the law of Moses. 3. That the completion, the perfection of the law itself is the faith in Christ. The covenant made by God with Abraham is here called the promises, because these promises are the instruments, as it were, by which the inheritance is conferred. These are promises, for the pledge of future possession and of future blessing was not made once only, but was often repeated; neither was one blessing only promised, — but many, — things in earth, Canaan in its fertility; things in heaven, peace, and rest, and abundant joy. All the good things of God were comprised in these promises to Abraham and his seed. The reasons why the covenant is spoken of as promises are: — 1. Because it chiefly consists of promises of God's gifts. 2. Because the covenant was revealed to Abraham in promises of blessings to be afterwards given. (W. Denton, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. |
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